Trump Makes a Deal With Putin—Then His Own Side Pushes Back

President Trump’s recent decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports and his public calls for Ukrainian President Zelensky’s replacement represent a significant strategic and moral failure. This deal provides less than a week’s worth of U.S. diesel supply while effectively financing Russia’s war machine, drawing sharp bipartisan condemnation from figures like Mike Pence and Representative Don Bacon. Trump’s rhetoric, which frames Ukrainian defensive strikes as harmful to American interests, ignores the reality that Russia remains the primary aggressor. These actions appear to be a desperate attempt to manufacture a political scapegoat ahead of looming midterm elections. Ultimately, meaningful diplomatic progress requires pressuring Putin to end his aggression rather than undermining a democratic ally. The backlash underscores a growing divide between the administration’s current policy and the broader consensus on supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.